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With a partial government shutdown just a day away, lawmakers in DC have reportedly brokered a deal for a continuing resolution (CR) that would push the shutdown deadlines further into March. As you may recall, late last year, Congress passed a short-term funding deal that split agency funding into two separate groups, each with their own deadline. Deadlines in early February were extended to early March, and now a new extension is expected to pass by Friday. Doing so will avoid a partial government shutdown.
While keeping the government running is typically a good thing, the Farm Bill once again likely gets hurt as a result. In a particularly troubling sign of its prospects, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who is the Senate lead on the Farm Bill for Democrats, recently said she would effectively be against passing the legislation this year if it seems Republicans are likely to make significant cuts to nutrition and conservation programs. Sen. Stabenow had previously been one of the most vocal supporters of the Farm Bill in this Congress, often noting she wanted to finish her last year in Congress on a strong note for agriculture.
Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-PA), who is Chairman of the House Ag Committee, has reportedly insisted they will still be planning to introduce the legislation in the coming months. With the election season now upon us though, there are more hurdles than ever to get a five-year reauthorization done. Whispers of a possible lame-duck play (which would come after the election in early November) now have the added complexity of a leadership vacuum in the Senate for Republicans, as Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced Wednesday he would step down from the role in November. In the meantime, much still remains for Congress to get to—but the clock continues to wind down.
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